LA JOLLA, Calif. — The No. 14 University of California San Diego women's water polo team fought hard until the end, but was unable to overcome an early deficit in a loss to No. T-6 UC Irvine, 11-8, on Friday evening at Canyonview Aquatic Center.
The loss snapped a six-game winning for UC San Diego (16-13, 4-0 WWPA), which returns to action Saturday evening for Senior Night against Pomona-Pitzer beginning at 6 p.m.
In addition, it was the Tritons' eighth contest this season against a team ranked in the top 10 of the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Top 25.
Sophomore Ciara Franke matched a career best with a game-high five goals along with an assist and a steal, while sophomore goalkeeper Bennett Bugelli recorded 10 saves in the net.
Sophomore Taylor Onstott finished with a goal and two assists, sophomore Tera Richardson added a goal with an assist and sophomore Grace Pevehouse scored once.
The Tritons fell behind 5-1 midway through the second quarter, but back behind three goals by Franke to close the first half and pull within 7-4 at intermission. Onstott's five-meter penalty shot made it a two-point game, 7-5, with 4:50 remaining in the third period.
However, it was the closest UC San Diego would get the rest of the way despite fourth-quarter goals from Richardson, Franke and Pevehouse.
Saturday's contest against Pomona-Pitzer marks the final career home games for seniors Halley Atkinson, Riley Heiduk, Carly Innis, Chanel Schilling, Krista Schneider, Shelby Stender and Maddy Wieseler. All seven will be honored on the pool deck prior to first sprint.
About UC San Diego Athletics
With 30 national team championships, nearly 150 individual titles and the top student-athlete graduation rate among Division II institutions in the United States, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program annually ranks as one of the most successful in the country. The Tritons sponsor 23 intercollegiate sport programs that compete on the NCAA Division I and II levels and, in summer 2020, will transition into full Division I status as a member of the Big West Conference. UC San Diego student-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent. A total of 80 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 36 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. In competition, more than 1,300 UC San Diego student-athletes have earned All-America honors.
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For complete coverage and information regarding UC San Diego Athletics, follow the Tritons online at UCSDtritons.com and through social media on Twitter (@ucsdtritons), Instagram (@ucsdtritons) and Facebook (ucsdtritons). In addition, you can follow UC San Diego women's water polo on Twitter (@ucsdwwp) and on Instagram (@ucsdwwp).
